Wednesday, December 31

It's New Year's Eve! We're only hours away from 2015. Did anybody else feel like this year went by pretty fast?

So, I thought I'd go ahead and give a totally biased favorites post about the best books published this year for each age group (teen, middlegrade, kids, early readers, and picture books). The choices aren't based on any awards they should win or professional critique, just pure and simple favoritism.

WWII has ended, and the USA and USSR are the most powerful countries in the world—and they're fast becoming rivals. Imagine you are living in the '50s and '60s: part of these two country's rivalry is a race to explore space. You can either be a scientist working on early rocket technology, a reporter following the firsts for both countries, or a member of Mission Control in NASA. You choose!

First of all: You Choose Books are simply genius. It's not a book that has to be read front to back, page by page. It's interactive, meaning the reading is more engaged and invested. Basically, these types a books are a favorite of mine when trying to get a reluctant reader reading. And these nonfiction options are great! The Race to the Moon is about an actual historical event. Kids can learn from this! The reason it works for a "You Choose" is that there are many branches of that history. Lassieur let's you explore each branch. Or just one. It's up to you.

Personally, it was a little difficult to read, but I'm a person who reads front to back, looking for every tidbit. "You Choose" means you flip back and front through different pages. You might suddenly die or get promoted—and then you can be done, or start over. Thus, the story is choppy; there's a little bit of artistic license. But still, I'm a proponent for these books. I think they're great for the right reader.

Monday, December 29

One winter, it started snowing. And snowing. It did not stop until four feet of snow blanketed the ground. At first, it was fun; but as the days passed with no snowplows, food started running low and cabin fever started running high. Will one heroic boy be able to brave the blizzard's dumping and get what his family and friends need?

Based on Rocco's real life experience with a massive blizzard, the story is certainly well done. The text is simple, and to the point; it's the illustrations that really express the emotions. With each passing day, people get a little more antsy. When the boy finally decides to go out to the store himself, his preparation, journey, and subsequent exhaustion take the reader on an adventure. Makes you chilly just looking at it! I really like Rocco's work and wonder if he'll get pegged for another Caldecott Honor. Blizzard certainly deserves it.

One dark night, Emma found a bottle floating in the ocean, unstopping it to reveal a rather diminutive and weak blue genie named Karim. He can't even grant her three wishes in such a state! Karim's nemesis, an evil yellow genie has taken his power away by stealing his magic nose ring and trapping him in a bottle. Emma and her dog have to help him get his powers back!

Funke originally wrote the story back in 2002 in her native German. The story itself is pretty adorable, with little spots of good humor and imagination. It's rather fairy-tale-esque with a clear villain, hero, and clear consequences. The translation, however, is not my favorite. Just released this year in English, Latsch seemed to have forgotten the story is targeted towards kids. I mean, couldn't you have put in "camel" instead of "dromedary"? Basically, the language (vocabulary and structure) is pretty complex. So it's up to you. Give your kids a challenge, or read a cute story for them that you're prepared to re-translate.

With each month of the year, and as the seasons change, there are new adventures to be had. Whether jumping in the lake, flying kites, dancing, or raking leaves, the critters are sure to have fun. The activities also follow the alphabet, for extra learning. Join these adorable critters on an adventure!

I'll just say now: it was the illustrations that grabbed me. The entire book is filled with adorable, folklore-ish depictions of cute forest creatures (...and a random triceratops?) doing fun activities. Like, there's a significant part of me that wants to rip out all the pages and hang them on my wall so as to admire them forevermore. Even the text is part of the art. It's amazing! But, I will admit, this is probably due more to personal preference. It's not a universally appreciated style. So decide for yourself:

The book as a whole is great. It rhymes, it teaches the seasons, it follows the alphabet, AND it's rainbow-color-coordinated. Yes. All of that. So on the one hand, it's a great tool for kids to have to read repeatedly—let's look for the letters of the alphabet, now which months go with which season, now the colors... There's a lot. A one time read may only get you an appreciation for a simple, not-to-exciting plot. So I do want people to check it out; but make sure to linger and let the kids have fun.

Charlotte Reynolds (aka Charlie) can outrun, outplay, and outscore the best of them--all thanks to being raised by a single dad, her three brothers, and her honorary brother from next door, Braden. But she doesn't know the first thing about being "girly." So everyone's surprised, especially Charlie, when she starts working at a chic boutique--and likes it. While trying to understand her evolving identity, and battling with nightmares about her mom's death, she escapes to the backyard fence late at night to talk it out with Braden. And falls for him. Hard. Can Charlie risk their friendship? Or is it a game she can't win?

I will be upfront about this right away: I loved this book immensely because I could relate to Charlie immediately. I loved hanging out with my brothers, and took my time figuring out the girly stuff (makeup? I mean really). I read this book into the wee hours, I couldn't put it down! Anyway, moving on to the more technical aspects...

West writes an amazing story. It's not just a cutesy romance; there's a serious undertone regarding identity and family. Charlie would much rather deal with sports than the real reasons behind her mother's death; she'd rather hide her appreciation for her new job (and new-found girly-ness) from her brothers than own up to a evolving self-perception. And then there's the romance with the boy next door. Which is a hard decision in itself. Overall, Charlie's character development is fantastic.

It's not perfect; I felt that the other characters were a little flat. Braden had some depth with his family issues, but I wish I knew more about his development. Like, why did he suddenly love her, too? I felt that all came in at the end, a little to rapidly. But still, this comes with a high recommendation. Plus, it's a clean romance. So go and enjoy!

Friday, December 19

So toys and games are great Christmas gifts. Definitely. But I'm a firm believer that every child should get a book (or something to read) for Christmas. Let's inspire a love for literature, people! However, there are some kids who are just not into it. I've talked about different ways to encourage reading, but here are some actual titles that I'd recommend to a reluctant reader.

Eleven-year-old Ellie already has enough change to deal with now that she's going to middle school. But when a strange boy shows up at her house, she's in for a big surprise. He's cranky, has a penchant for polyester clothing, bosses people around him, and looks vaguely like Ellie's grandfather—a scientist obsessed with finding the cure for old age. Is this boy really Grandpa Melvin? Has he really discovered the source for eternal youth?

While the story of eternal youth can be far-fetched, Holm uses the idea to really focus in on the deeper aspects of life, death, and relationships—and what science has really accomplished in the world. Sure, there's no eternal youth, but there's vaccines, pasteurization, and the atomic bomb. She uses Grandpa Melvin, with the perfect does of humor and zeal for science, to emphasize these ideas.

Ellie is the best character in the book. She's facing the quintessential horrors of middle school: her best friend has new interests, her parents have certain expectations...and then there's the strange boy wearing all black and sporting several piercings. What does she want to do? How can she build her own identity? Well, maybe science is as cool as her grandpa claims. And so it begins! Holm captured her anxiety and success rather well.

Besides some jumps (I felt like the push at the climax came rather suddenly), the story is a good one, and I appreciate the girls-can-love-science-too undertone. I recommend it. Especially if you want to encourage an appreciation for science!

Baymo is tired of being a dog; humans have all the fun. He makes a wish to Father Moon that he can experience the freedom of manhood, and it's granted. Because of his struggles with human elements like walking, clothes, food, and talking (he likes howling), he soon prompts suspicion from the police. Running away into the city, he makes friends with a homeless man and learns the hard way just what being a man means. Will he ever be able to return to his original form?

With all the excitement of a puppy, Baymo is action-packed and full of adventure. It's smaller (roughly 98 pages) and broken up into easy-read chapters. It's also got some doses of humor that is sure to get the reader giggling. It's a fun story. But I do want to say: heavier elements of the story and some complex vocabulary have me disagreeing with the author's initial target audience (7 - 11 year-olds). Kadish favors abstract similes and metaphors, as well as the honest truth: being a dog-turned-man means a pretty hard life. Baymo has some fun, but he also gets seriously ill and involved with some very dangerous men (like, have-knife-will-kill sort of men). There's no sugar-coating on this story.

So what do I think? Overall, 10 - 14 year-olds may better appreciate the story reading on their own. Or, it could make a good read-aloud with your kids. It could prompt serious consideration about different pros/cons in changing your species! Try it out; it's a fun read.

(I'm sure we all already know the story...) Rudolph is constantly teased by the other handsome reindeer because of his shiny red nose. But he knows he's been good, and eagerly awaits a visit from Santa with presents for Christmas. Meanwhile, Santa struggles to steer his sled safely through a thick fog, no stars or moon to guide his way. When he gets to Rudolph's house, he's surprised to see a red light shining in the darkness--a perfect guide for his sleigh! He wakes Rudolph, and with his help, is able to deliver all of his presents. Rudolph is a hero!

So it turns out: I didn't know the complete history of the story of Rudolph. Here's the blurb under the author's description on the back flap:

"Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939, when his company, the Montgomery
Ward department stores, asked him to write a Christmas story that they
could give away to customers. Drawing on the tale of 'The Ugly
Duckling,' Mr. May penned the story of a sweet, homely reindeer shunned
because of his glowing red nose. Little did he know his creation was
destined to become a Christmas holiday classic. Over the next few years,
the company distributed millions of copies of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The book’s copyright was transferred to Mr. May in 1947, and under his
ownership, Rudolph’s popularity soared. Commercial printings and
cartoons quickly followed, and then, of course, came the song, which
secured Rudolph’s place in Christmas history, and in our hearts,
forever. Robert L. May died in 1976."

So this year being the 75th anniversary, Caparo expertly took on the classic poem and created vivid illustrations. And gave Santa a pretty hip fashion sense:

Check out those sneakers! And cargo jacket! Anyway, it is beautifully done, and I'd definitely recommend it.Find it at your library or on Amazon

Violet Lasting is up for auction as a surrogate. With her esteemed skill in Augury (power to change shape, color, and growth), she is quickly purchased by one of the royals, the Duchess of the Lake. Now living in The Jewel, she is quickly immersed in the back-stabbing, intrigue, and cruelty behind the wealth and opulence. Practically a slave, When she meets a man also under the Duchess' thumb and falls in love, their illicit relationship will cost both of them dearly.

Generally speaking, the story was a suspenseful and intriguing enough to keep me reading through to the end, trying to find out what will happen. The political intrigue running rampant through the book creates excellent drama and suspense. The Duchess is a fantastic character with a mysterious past; as we see the reasons behind her motivations, bit by bit as the story progresses, the questions build. Violet, however, was less impressive, with random spurts of pure rebelliousness and sudden obedience that didn't always make sense. And the romance? It could've been better. It's very sudden and unsupported, and rather disgustingly juvenile.

Ewing definitely came up with a unique (maybe slightly weird) idea: royals can no longer sustain their own pregnancies but a doctor discovers a genetic quirk conveniently amid the pubescent lowest class that makes for excellent surrogacy. Teenage surrogates. I'm still a little weirded out. The doctor appointments, especially (really, you had to mention the stirrups?). Pros and cons, my friends. You can decide whether or not to read for yourself.

First of all—glitter everywhere, but I survived. To anyone who wants to recreate this for themselves: glitter paper would work better. My library had a lot (A LOT) of glitter on hand, so I decided to make my own glitter paper. It worked, but it just... well, glittered. Moving on...

For a brief how-to: I used foam core. So I cut the letters out, arrange them on a foam core board, and marked where I wanted lights. I hole punched the letters, and stabbed the foam core with a screw driver (I use what I have available, okay?) and poked the lights through. It probably took me around three hours. Glue and tape works wonders. For a really detailed how-to, you can use the website I found that was my inspiration: A Beautiful Mess.

The lights are only on during the day, so no worries about burning up. It's a definite eye-catcher, so I highly recommend it.

Lucy and her family has just moved (again) to a cottage on the lake, and she's ready with her camera. She yearns to have her father be proud of her photos, himself being a famous photographer off on a job in Arizona. So when she learns he's judging a contest, she enters anonymously with the help of her new-found friend, Nate. But as they find shots, what Lucy thinks makes good, truthful art seems to Nate a sad realization: that his grandmother's memory is fading along with what he holds dear about his summers at the lake.

The premise of seeking truth through art seems deep and moving, but this story was slow and boring. Perhaps, if I had a passion for photography, I could have connected more. But as it stands, the characters were flat and never really evolved in the story. It is clear from the beginning that Lucy needs praise and attention from her father, to the point where it drives the majority of her thoughts and actions. But he never really gives it to her; it remains unresolved and Lucy still lacks real identity. It makes for a hollow climax. The other characters remain pretty flat, as well.

And the story? I can appreciate the scary and heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's/dimensia (or whatever it is that Grandma is suffering from) that some families go through. But it gave this story a depressing undercurrent; it's never fully addressed and dealt with by the characters. Then, with the plot being mostly about this photography contest, there just isn't much (or any) excitement or drama. I'm just not wowed by it. Which is a bummer coming from Lord, since her other books are pretty amazing.

Imagine if the biggest numbers or ideas were scaled down to an understandable comparison. For example: if the Sun were a size of a grapefruit, the Earth would be the size of a grain of salt. Or, if all of Earth's water were represented by 100 drinking glasses, only one glass would contain the fresh drinking water available to us humans. Whether it be about the universe, human history, or geological facts, huge ideas can be scaled down to create surprising perspectives.

Full of facts and figures, this book is an exercise for the brain; it definitely has some amazing details. It's a "fun fact" sort of book where no single topic is addressed really extensively, but kids can learn all sorts of numbers behind population, geography, and astronomy. There isn't a totally clear sense of organization; each page is simply a new set of facts.

But each comparison/fact definitely gets to you stop and think. My favorite one is: if the Milky Way were the size of a dinner plate, our Solar System would be smaller than a speck of dust, and the visible universe would be the size of Belgium. That was a "whoa" moment. So prepare to be amazed and check out this book. It's pretty awesome.

It seemed like the appropriate time of year to read this book! I have never reviewed an anthology before, and am now realizing how hard it is. Overall, sure, my rating is three stars, but that's just the average. There were some really, really fantastic stories. And some really weird, totally not-my-style stories. And the in-betweens. So I can honestly recommend this to most anyone that likes cheesy holiday romances because there is a really good chance at least one story will impress.

In interest of space and time, I'll talk about the authors/stories that impressed me the most. My favorite favorite was Stephanie Perkins (who I haven't read before, but will now be seeking out more!) and her short called, "It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown." It's impressive how quickly she builds a realistic romance between two complex characters. And how quickly I fell into it--I want more! Also (for same reasons), Gayle Forman's and Rainbow Rowell's stories are impressive.

As for complexity in setting, concept, and character, the award goes to....(drum roll)... Laini Taylor. I haven't read her work before either, but her story (which wraps up the anthology, for obvious reasons) is above and beyond the cutesy contemporary romance. It's a intricate, folklore-ish, deep tale of admiration and love. Maybe not totally my style, but impressive nontheless.

Friday, December 5

Orion. That's what happened. Yep. NASA has officially—and successfully—launched Orion, a new spacecraft that is designed to take humans farther than ever before. Granted, it's a test launch, but successful, nonetheless. Don't you realize what this means?? Man may soon be on Mars! (Soon being relative: it will still be another decade or two. Still.). Check out the launch video:

So this got me planning an awesome kids' activity. I'm thinking I may use it for a kids program, or even another space storytime. Either way, you guys should try it out.

Rose Howard has Asperger's syndrome and, as such, some of her favorites things include prime numbers, rules, and homonyms--especially homonyms, because her name has one (rows). When her father comes home with a stray dog that he found in the rain, Rose immediately names her accordingly: Rain (reign, rein). They're inseparable; a much needed companion for Rose, since her father prefers to spend his time at the local bar. But after a terrible storm, Rain goes missing. Now Rose must find her dog, even if it means confronting the limits of her comfort and security.

This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. It's simple—told from Rose's perspective, she talks simply and repetitively. But at the same time, it addresses such complex ideas as single parenthood, alcoholism, courage, perspective, and responsibility. Rose, as a character, is amazingly complex, for a middle-grade (and somewhat short) novel. Now, that all being said, I would suspect that the story may not actually be all that appealing to the average tween. Unless they really love dogs; that's a definite appeal. But all you adults? Yeah. Pick this one up. It's so worth it.

With his hat, books, and lasso, Leroy Ninker has always dreamed of being a cowboy. But then his friend, Beatrice, points out the obvious: he has no horse. So he wrestles fate into the ground and, through an ad in the newspaper, meets Maybelline. It is love at first sight. However, it turns out caring for Maybelline just may be more work than Leroy is prepared to do...

So this book is a spin-off series. In the first book of the series about Mercy Watson, DiCamillo's famed pig, we are first introduced to Leroy as a thief in the night. Well, he is up and reformed. Now, he is rather in love with the idea of being a cowboy and in love with his horse (it gets pretty mushy at a few parts). He's a pretty cute character and the horse is absolutely charming as well. Overall, the story is a good one. As for the writing...well, let's just say I was surprised to find words like "cogitate" and "rue" and quite a few others that would challenge even the excelled reader. It's definitely a good one if you want kids to expand their vocabulary!

Ruby loves all things red—especially the red cloak her grandmother made her! When she puts it on, she becomes SUPER RED RIDING HOOD! So when her mother sends her to the forest to pick some delicious red raspberries, she dons her cloak and fearlessly begins her quest. Not even the darkness, mysterious sounds, or snapping twigs will scare her! But what about a large, hungry wolf? What will Super Red Riding Hood do now?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, because it had some surprising twists to the original fairy tale. Ruby definitely seems pretty super when facing her fears; she's still scared, but she can talk herself through it and become brave. Which is a great lesson for kids. However, when facing the big, bad, bully of a wolf, some action-packed chasing soon follows. This may seem a bit scary for the kids. Finally, though, Ruby tries a different approach. And that's really the appreciable part. So read it and see what you think.

Lara Jean's life has just gone from normal to crazy: her five secretly-written love letters were accidentally mailed out to her crushes. They're not really love letters, just a confession of things that Lara Jean writes down for herself (she'd never say them aloud!) and they were never meant to be sent out. Now her first kiss, the cute guy from middle school, and even her sister's ex-boyfriend are confronting her, wanting to know the truth. She thought all these crushes of hers were done and in the past...but she may be feeling a spark once again. Maybe something good can come out of this.

I will admit right now that I had a hard time putting down this book, and was staying up pretty late trying to finish it. It was building itself up for this great romantic climax and ending! But then...it just ended. I felt so unfulfilled. Granted, it has been let on that there will be some sort of sequel. But still! It just ended! I'm still frustrated about it.

As for the characters, Lara Jean was difficult for me to understand. On the one hand, she's pretty conservative and tries to live up to the ideals of her perfect older sister. On the other, she has a crazy best friend and made out randomly with a boy in the hall. She wants people to think she's dating the school's hottie, but bursts into tears when a rumor spreads that she had sex with him. It seems like these characteristics are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The boys of the book were a tad unpredictable, perhaps because their characters weren't as well developed as they could have been.

So how do I really sum this up. It was obviously a good story that kept me reading, but in the end, I was not impressed. I might recommend it to the right person.

As Alfie McQuinn, the world-famous cat burglar, lies dying in the street after a fatal fall, his final words to his son are to "find jewels." March McQuinn soon discovers his father is not talking about loot, but about Jules, the long lost twin he never knew he had. Orphaned, the two are sent to a group home—where they immediately escape with some friends. They are bent on finishing Alfie's work, a heist that will give the money they need to live the life they've dreamed. But they're up against some dangerous rivals and will soon realize that more than money is on the line.

March and Jules are almost 13-years-old and yet...they can steal a fortune like something out of Ocean's Eleven. While this came off as thoroughly unbelievable to me, I can see that it would make an exciting read for a middle-grader. Indeed, the book is non-stop action and thrills, with one dangerous stunt after another. The characters are not as well developed as I would've hoped—because of all the emphasis on the action. And they come and go as they're needed (there's a LOT of characters that just show up conveniently). But the variety is entertaining, and it works for the target age.

Basically, it's an exciting book that kids (especially boys) would probably enjoy. For me? I wasn't head-over-heels. But I'd still recommend it to the right person.

After the battle with Pitch that ended of the Golden Age, only the Man in the Moon remains. He watches over the kids on Earth, and protects them. But when Pitch, the Nightmare King, rises again, MiM knows he must find fellow guardians to protect the children. Through the series, he recruits: the wisest of wizards, Ombric; the swashbuckling thief-turned hero, Nicholas St. North; the bright protector in the dark, Nightlight; the last remaining Pooka, E. Aster Bunnymund; the queen of tooth fairies and collector of memories, Toothiana; and former shooting star captain and dream/wish master, Sanderson ManSnoozy. Together with Katherine, the orphaned child who is often the target of Pitch's fury, they battle Pitch again and again in hopes of finally banishing the nightmare.

While I am reviewing these books as a series, I will break them down a little bit more. But first, my overall impression: I LOVE these books. They are hope and goodness and feel-goods and happiness and all things that bring me joy. They're the ultimate fairy tales with magical beings in a terrifying battle against true darkness and evil. I LOVE it. But that is also my biased sentiment; I love a good fairy tale and prefer fantasy. It's definitely my style of book: all that is good about being a child. In a more professional sense, I would still rate these books high because of the imagination, thorough development, and careful structure put into these stories. It seems as if Joyce has prepared for everything and left no loose ends. They're brilliant.

In Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, Pitch is first loosed on the world and we are introduced to Ombric, Nicholas, and Nightlight. Katherine, an orphaned girl living with Ombric in Santoff Claussen, attaches herself to the guardians, developing into a stronger, braver character. She finds and adopts her giant Snow Goose and records the stories of their adventures (*coughMotherGoosecough*). Since everything is so new, there are still some shallow, just-believe-it moments. It could serve as a perfectly fun standalone story, but it still had me grabbing for the next one, just knowing it was available...

In E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core, Pitch has built a sanctuary for himself in the center of the earth, kidnapping the kids in Katherine's village in attempts to draw in and trap the guardians there. Who better to help than the oldest & wisest creature on Earth? Who also happens to be a tunneling master? Bunnymund is a fascinating character, because he is totally unlike any others in the books—very formal, but can succumb to craziness. It's fascinating.

Then, Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairies, makes the series even more complex. Toothiana's origin is very...fraught with heartache. A lot more emphasis is placed important elements of humanity: kindness, forgiveness, and the like. In the final battle of this book, the gaurdians are set to kill Pitch once and for all, but it is Katherine who remembers the importance of mercy. So, compared to the other books, this one was very heavy. Still, it added amazing depth to these tales.

Finally, Sandman and the War of Dreams, it which Katherine is subjected to torturous nightmares that only the love of Nightlight can disperse. It's a tad darker—which makes sense, because ever since the beginning, Pitch has been getting stronger and more cunning. It also gives more history, specifically Pitch's history, which brings SO much depth to what could be just an evil villain. I'm telling you guys, Joyce knows what he's doing.

And the title-less book 5, due perhaps as late as 2016, is eagerly awaited. But I wouldn't let that stop me from reading all of these books. Heck, ALL of Joyce's books! The man is a genius, celebrating all that is good about childhood. He gives depth and origins to the fantasies of Santa, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy in a fascinating, skillful way. And I am a fan. Go. Go and read.

And this here blog is a mish-mash of awesome resources for librar-ians, educators, and parents. Oh, and book lovers, too! Check out my storytime ideas, book reviews, book lists, library-isms, and more as I hoot about all things literary!